Confucianism

Confucianism

Question 1

Confucianism believes that all humans have some good in them. It focuses more on the potential of human beings, not their weaknesses or flaws. As such, Confucius advocated more on a justice system that was focused not retribution but on self-restoration. Confucianism, therefore, focuses more on the rehabilitation of culprits in the home that they will be more humane and is not in support of strict penal codes or strict governance. Confucius believed that the rehabilitation of wrongdoers would lead to harmony in society. He thought that this kind of approach would enable wrongdoers to improve their inner qualities. This justice system placed more confidence and faith in people. Western laws, on the other hand, use stringent rules or guidelines to uphold peace and order in society. They emphasize the following of due process when it comes to solving disputes in society. While East Asian Philosophies advocate for disputes to be settled through mediation, western laws prefer litigation as the primary approach in dispute settlement, and mediation is only considered an alternative. The litigation approach favored by the west is believed to promote self-interests.

Question 2

Confucianism is more of a system of moral beliefs or virtues, rather than a religion. It is more of an ethical system that emphasizes on human characters and how people should live in society. According to Confucius, all humans have some good in them, and wrongdoers should be rehabilitated instead of being reckoned. His ethical system was based on six virtues, as described below.

Xi

This refers to learning virtue. It is an essential virtue because it encourages people to develop the desire to learn. Confucianism is of the view that ignorant people or those who do not have a desire to learn lead foolish lives, and they spread folly to other people. Living in wisdom and cultivation, the practice of learning enables one to lead a meaningful life.

Zhi

This refers to the character virtues or the substance that one is made of. It may refer to one construction physically, but it refers more to the character of a person. The xi and the Zhi suggest that no person is created bad or good, but one has the freedom to choose how they want to learn, how they want to progress, and how they want to grow. For instance, one might be born to a criminal family, but they have a choice to decide if they wish to tread the path of morality or immorality.

Li

This is the community virtue. It merely describes how people interact with others and the responsibilities they have towards other members of the community. Additionally, it describes how people treat one another and the way they behave towards others. This idea is closely tied to justice and fairness. The li suggests that if people are just and fair, then the resultant society will be more just and reasonable.

Yi

The Yi translates to morality, but it may also include virtues such as a duty to others and righteousness. The Yi suggests that we should treat others appropriately, and we should always do the right thing. For instance, the right thing to do when we meet needy people would be to help them, not to rob them.

Wen

This concept focuses on self-development or leisure. The wen emphasizes the importance of pursuits such as poetry, music, arts, and other recreational activities in self-development. It is an idea that encourages people to spread the meaning and beauty of life in their life pursuits.

Ren

The ren concept emphasizes selflessness. It denotes that there is joy in being selfless in the community. It is the highest virtue that a person of virtue could have, yet it is the most difficult one to attain. It is associated with humaneness, love, and benevolence, and it carries all the other virtues.

Question 3

Confucian political economics are more of ethical forms, which differ greatly from the liberal economics of the west.  Confucian economics emphasizes more on posterity, which is sought through the offspring, and not through instant gratification. Confucianism views resources as being abundant in society and that people should work hard to make a living instead of taking other people’s resources. The economics of Confucianism emphasizes more on work ethics and not profit margins. People work for their families, not for themselves, and the family is seen as the basis for moral sentiments and a responsibility. This perhaps explains why the family is the main institution in Confucian economics, not the market. Confucianism emphasizes more on equality and perceives inequality as a hindrance to social peace, growth, and development. Theoretically, Confucian economics is more of an ethical system, which has continued to influence the Chinese economy for many years.  Confucian economics is the engine that drives china’s modernity.

Question 4

The main purpose of Confucian laws is to attain harmony, which it considers to be the most important social value in society. The laws strictly emphasize the fulfillment of responsibilities, maintenance of social order, and being merciful. These can only be achieved if defined roles can be established in society and all people committing themselves to act responsibly and properly towards others. The “ren” is the main ethical principle of Confucian laws, which equates to being humane, merciful, and loving. Confucius best explains this by urging people to do to others what they would want to be done to them or for them.

Confucian laws also emphasize on the rehabilitation of wrongdoers instead of punishing, or retribution.  The laws are based on the assumption that people in society are good and that wrongdoers should be assisted in finding the correct path.  Unlike western laws, which punish the wrongdoer, Confucian laws put trust in people and suggest that people can actually mend their ways. Confucianism also assumes that laws that emphasize on punishing the wrongdoers will lead to social disorder and individualism.

The primary role of Confucian laws was actually to shape human behaviors because Confucius believed that society would be harmonious if people are well behaved. The laws emphasized the concepts of ritualism and morality. Rituality referred to relationships in society and the laws that regulated the relationships. For society to be harmonious, Confucian laws insisted on naming social relationships. This means that people to be made aware of their social ranks in society and the positions they occupied in the fabric of society. The way people relate to each other is determined by their position or ranks.

Question 5

Theoretically, Confucianism emphasizes the Zhou Rites, which were the basis of the Zhou religion. The founder of Confucianism did not view the rituals as a way to get blessings from the gods; he viewed them as ceremonies that humans had to perform to symbolize their civility, cultured behaviors, and wisdom.  The rituals exemplified the ethical cores of Chinese society. Additionally, the term ritual does not just encompass religious ceremonies and formal sacrifices, but it also includes social rituals such as courtesies and acceptable behavioral standards.  Confucianism regards the old traditional rituals as a symbol of civilization, and that civilized societies are unified, stable, and orderly.

Question 6

One of the characteristics of modernism in the growth of capitalism especially at international levels, which have led to social inequalities such as, divides between the poor and the rich, different classes of people depending on who controls means of production, etc. modernity has created power and economic struggles and competitions, and it emphasizes more on individualism and competition. Technological innovations are also part of modern societies, which has also accelerated globalization. While Confucianism continues to influence the east, these elements of modernity have given Confucianism a completely new meaning. Confucianism today tries to adapt to globalization and modernization of Chinese societies, especially in Taiwan, Singapore, and mainland China. Modernism has, in a way, led to the creation of 2 forms of Confucianism, modern Confucianism and traditional Confucianism. Researchers, scholars, and even students who have a keen interest in Confucianism are fascinated by the way Confucianism is beginning to adopt beliefs similar to those of the west. Even modern Confucians are beginning to question its relevance in contemporary society.